2 Corinthians 10 12

2 Corinthians 10:12 kjv

For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

2 Corinthians 10:12 nkjv

For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

2 Corinthians 10:12 niv

We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.

2 Corinthians 10:12 esv

Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

2 Corinthians 10:12 nlt

Oh, don't worry; we wouldn't dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!

2 Corinthians 10 verses

2 Corinthians 10 12 Meaning

The Apostle Paul states a fundamental principle of Christian ministry: he and his genuine co-workers refuse to evaluate or validate themselves using human-centric metrics or by comparing themselves with those who boast of their own accomplishments. He critically exposes the folly of his opponents in Corinth, who, lacking any external, divine standard, merely measure and compare themselves against each other, leading them to a profound lack of true spiritual understanding and wisdom. This verse emphasizes the danger of self-commendation and the superiority of God's commendation as the sole legitimate basis for ministry and spiritual authority.

2 Corinthians 10 12 Context

2 Corinthians 10 is part of Paul's vigorous defense of his apostolic authority against challenges from certain individuals in the Corinthian church. These opponents, often referred to as "super-apostles" or false apostles (2 Cor 11:5, 12), seemingly boasted about their impressive oratorical skills, credentials, and outward appearances, implicitly contrasting these with Paul's perceived physical weakness and lack of polished speech (2 Cor 10:1, 10). The entire chapter emphasizes Paul's spiritual authority and the nature of his "weapons" of warfare (2 Cor 10:3-6), which are not worldly but divine. Verse 12 serves as a pivot, directly confronting the methodology and character of his rivals. It sets the stage for Paul's discussion of boasting, defining legitimate versus illegitimate grounds for commendation (leading into 2 Cor 10:17-18). The historical and cultural context of Corinth, a Hellenistic city valuing rhetoric, philosophy, and personal status, sheds light on why these superficial distinctions were appealing to some members of the church and why Paul had to challenge them so forcefully.

2 Corinthians 10 12 Word analysis

• For (γάρ - gar): A conjunction connecting this verse to the preceding thoughts, explaining why Paul and his companions will not act in a particular way. It provides the reasoning behind his stance on spiritual authority and method.
• we dare not (οὐ τολμῶμεν - ou tolmōmen): A strong negative expression, signifying an emphatic refusal based on principle and conviction. It means "we do not presume," "we do not venture," or "we would not bring ourselves." It conveys not a lack of courage but a refusal to adopt a flawed, ungodly practice.
• class ourselves with (ἐγκρῖναι - enkrīnai): Literally, "to count oneself among," "to put oneself in the same class as." It implies an act of including oneself within an approved group or judging oneself worthy of such classification. It speaks to establishing a claim based on certain internal criteria.
• or compare ourselves to (ἢ συγκρῖναι - ē synkrīnai): "Or to make a joint judgment," "to compare with." This refers to setting oneself side-by-side with others to determine relative standing, superiority, or inferiority. Paul is rejecting both forms of self-evaluation rooted in human-driven criteria.
• those who commend themselves (τῶν ἑαυτοὺς συνιστανόντων - tōn heautous synistanontōn): A direct reference to Paul's opponents in Corinth. Synistanō means "to introduce," "to recommend," or "to commend." This phrase denotes individuals who are self-promoting, writing their own "letters of recommendation," and validating their ministry based solely on their own claims and subjective assessments.
• But (ἀλλά - alla): A strong adversative conjunction, marking a sharp contrast and redirection. It introduces the folly of the opponents' actions, set against Paul's principled refusal.
• measuring themselves by themselves (ἑαυτοὺς ἐν ἑαυτοῖς μετροῦντες - heautous en heautois metrountes): Metreō means "to measure." This phrase depicts a self-referential standard. They establish their own metrics, then judge themselves by those very metrics, forming a closed and fallacious evaluative system. It highlights a complete lack of objective, external, or divine reference.
• and comparing themselves among themselves (καὶ συγκρίνοντες ἑαυτοὺς ἑαυτοῖς - kai synkrinontes heautous heautois): A reinforcement of the previous phrase, using the same verb synkrinō (compare) but now explicitly stating the objects of comparison as "themselves among themselves." This emphasizes the tautological and inwardly focused nature of their evaluations, creating a feedback loop without any external reality check.
• they are not wise (οὐ συνιοῦσιν - ou syniousin): Syniēmi means "to understand," "to comprehend," "to perceive," or "to have insight." The negation ou indicates a profound lack of spiritual perception and true intelligence. Their self-centered measuring and comparing demonstrates not just a lack of worldly cleverness but a deep absence of divine wisdom and discernment. They simply "do not understand" the true nature of God's ministry and commendation.

Words-group analysis

• "For we dare not class ourselves with or compare ourselves to": This opening phrase reveals Paul's unwavering commitment to divine standards. It is not an admission of weakness, but a bold, principled stand against the corrupt and self-serving evaluative practices of his opponents. His refusal highlights the clear distinction between his genuine apostleship and their illegitimate ministry.
• "those who commend themselves": This refers to individuals driven by ego and self-promotion, likely the "super-apostles" Paul confronts throughout the letter. Their authority is self-originated and self-validated, relying on human approval rather than divine commission.
• "measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves": This crucial phrase paints a vivid picture of intellectual and spiritual folly. The repeated "themselves" (four times in two Greek phrases) powerfully underscores the circular, inward-looking, and utterly subjective nature of their assessment. They are their own judges, jury, and standard, leading to an echo chamber of self-deception and misplaced confidence. This is presented as fundamentally illogical and spiritually bankrupt.
• "they are not wise": This concluding statement is a direct judgment on the intellectual and spiritual bankruptcy of their method. It means they lack understanding or comprehension, not merely in a trivial sense, but concerning the very nature of ministry, authority, and God's wisdom. Their approach prevents them from discerning God's truth, revealing a profound spiritual blindness that undergirds their self-commendation.

2 Corinthians 10 12 Bonus section

This verse carries a profound warning against "narcissistic Christianity" – a spirituality that becomes absorbed with self-performance and self-validation rather than humble service to Christ and others. Paul's consistent emphasis throughout his letters, especially 2 Corinthians, is that all true boasting should be "in the Lord" (2 Cor 10:17, 1 Cor 1:31, Jer 9:24), reflecting divine activity and grace, not human effort or attainment. The problem of the opponents was not merely that they commended themselves, but that they did so by human standards and to human ears, seeking human glory. Paul implies that their lack of wisdom extends to not recognizing that God is the only legitimate source of validation for Christian ministry (2 Cor 10:18). Their inability to see beyond their self-defined boundaries made them incapable of grasping spiritual realities, exposing a fundamental flaw in their theology and methodology. This verse continues to be profoundly relevant today, as many are tempted to evaluate their worth, success, or even their spirituality based on external, superficial metrics derived from human opinions rather than on the unwavering, unseen truth of God's grace and calling.

2 Corinthians 10 12 Commentary

In 2 Corinthians 10:12, Paul sharply contrasts his ministry philosophy with that of his Corinthian adversaries. He adamantly refuses to participate in their self-serving game of self-commendation and comparison. For Paul, legitimate authority and worth in ministry come solely from God, not from human judgment or self-promotion. His opponents, by contrast, operate within a closed system: they create their own standards, then measure and compare themselves against these self-imposed, subjective benchmarks. Paul declares this approach to be utterly foolish, signifying a lack of spiritual insight and true wisdom. Such circular reasoning traps individuals in a cycle of pride and deception, blinding them to divine approval and real spiritual efficacy. The true measure of a servant of Christ is found not in human applause or superficial comparison but in humble obedience to God and the commendation that comes from Him alone.

Examples:

• A Christian leader only promoting their ministry by showcasing large crowd numbers or lavish facilities, rather than focusing on spiritual transformation, risks falling into this trap.
• Believers who feel discouraged or inadequate because they compare their quiet, faithful service to the "bigger" or more "visible" ministries of others may be measuring by the wrong standard.
• Modern cultural metrics, such as social media followers or financial success, when used to gauge spiritual influence, mimic the "not wise" comparison Paul warns against.